This is a team that dominated the NHL all season long, has the most
exciting and perhaps the most talented player in hockey, and yet has
maintained a sense all season long that they are being disrespected at
every turn. Their “us against the world” mentality starts at the very
top with owner Ted Leonsis, who speaks of disrespect and have the team
constantly having to prove themselves to earn it.

He’s partially right of course. Any team that has yet to win the
Stanley Cup will always have questions to answer (see: San Jose Sharks).
Once you’ve reached the holy land, then teams get a bit of a pass. The
Red Wings, Devils and Penguins all escape completely scrutiny…at
times. The Capitals just aren’t there yet.

But with the Capitals becoming a vortex of media attention this past
season, the “us against them” attitude has grown. The players play like
they have something to prove every night, and the coach maintains that
stance in front of the media horde. The past two days, that tension has
begun to overflow a bit.

Yesterday, it was reported that Jose Theodore had left practice after
being struck in the the arm with a shot by Alex Ovechkin. Apparently,
the shot wasn’t by Ovechkin and it was just another instance of the
media misreporting what’s happening in Washington.

Bruce Boudreau does not like misreporting, stating as much during his
press conference today.

“Before I go further, I don’t have a problem answering any questions,
but get it right – that’s all I ask of you,” Boudreau said. “Yesterday,
it wasn’t Ovechkin that hit Theodore like it was publicized everywhere –
it was Dave Steckel. So don’t guess and make it sound like out best
player is getting it.

“Then when we were talking about what I was talking about
Brodeur and Miller’s record that Theo was better than in the last 20
games. Don’t try to create the controversy if it’s not there. If we say the controversy it is there, but don’t
try tocreate it by making [crap] up, or stuff up OK? That’s all I
ask.”

What’s even crazier is that immediately after his presser, there
were murmurs that Boudreau had slammed the Canadian media for their
inaccuracies, so as Capr PR director Nate
Ewell puts it: “So, people misreport on Bruce’s rant about being
misreported. This could be a long series.”

I for one am sick of the inferiority complex and the chip on their shoulder.
Heaven forbid Bruce and his team get questioned a little bit.
Nothing shows less maturity than snapping at every negative comment about your team, feeling the need to defend yourself at every corner.
Say one bad thing about Washington, and here comes the bandwagon, ready to jump all over you.
I for one can’t wait until they’re eliminated…by somebody.